158 PERAMELIDiE. 



of the back the black prevails, excepting on the 

 fasciae ; on the sides of the body the yellowish tint 

 prevails. 



Length from nose to root of tail, 16 inches; tail, 

 3 inches ; from nose to ear, 4 inches 2 lines ; ear, 

 1 inch 2 hnes; length of tarsus, (claws not in- 

 cluded,) 2 inches 8 lines. 



This species inhabits Van Diemen's Land, is 

 closely allied to P. nasutus, but differs in having 

 white fasciae over the rump ; the tail is shorter, and 

 of a pure white colour, and the fur softer. The first 

 specimen was brought by Mr. Gunn, who (in a 

 paper in the Annals of Natural History, No. 2, vol. 

 ii.) has furnished an interesting account of the habits 

 of various animals inhabiting Van Diemen's Land. 

 After this gentleman the species is named. 



The Perameles Gunnii is known in Van Diemen's 

 Land by the name of Bandicoot. Mr. Gunn states, 

 that they " are numerous everywhere ; they burrow 

 in the ground universally as far as I have seen, and 

 live principally on roots. . I knew one gentleman's 

 entire collection of Cape balbs, principally Bambia- 

 nece, eaten by them, and I suffered considerably 

 myself, having lost some entire species of bulbs 

 through these animals." I may observe that in the 

 intestines of two species of Perameles which have 

 been dissected in this country, (one by Dr. Grant, 

 and the other by Professor Owen, — at which dis- 

 section I was present,) nothing but insects were 

 found. May not these animals destroy the bulbs 

 to get at insects with which they are infested ? I 



